A questionnaire survey was conducted in 128 healthy volunteers with constipation tendency to study the effect of β1-4 linked galactooligosaccharides (4′-GOS) on defecation. The first group of 78 females were given the beverage containing 2.5 g /day or 5.0 g /day of 4′-GOS for one week and another group of 9 males and 41 females the beverage containing 10.0 g/day of 4′-GOS for one week. Responses were analyzed in respect of the 4′-GOS intake period and the nonintake period, and the following results were obtained.
1) The defecation frequency (number of times/day) significantly increased while the subjects took the beverage with 5.0 g or 10.0 g of 4′-GOS (p<0.05). The number of days/week when they had defecation increased significantly during the intake period in all subjects in the 4′-GOS 10.0 g group (p<0.05) and in those with low defecation frequency in the 4′-GOS 5.0g group (p<0.01).
2) Feces became significantly softer by drinking the beverage containing 5.0 g or 10.0g of 4′-GOS (p<0.05).
3) The frequency of symptoms such as flatus and bowel movement increased by drinking the beverage containing 10.0 g of 4′-GOS (p<0.05).
The results revealed that the beverage containing 5.0g or 10.0g of 4′-GOS improved defecation of persons with a tendency for constipation.

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The present study aimed to investigate effects of various types of foods consumed concurrently with cooked rice or white bread on plasma glucose in healthy college students. Fifteen students were given cooked rice or white bread with or without other foods which were equivalent to 80kcal as energy, and changes in plasma glucose were examined. The cooked rice and white bread respectively contained 50g of carbohydrate.
Rice and white bread elicited a peak in plasma glucose levels 30 minutes after the intake. The postprandial response of plasma glucose to white bread consumed with boiled soybeans was significantly greater than that to white bread alone, although there were no significant differences in plasma glucose when combination was with egg or milk. Lees of bean curd significantly elevated the plasma glucose level after 120 minutes when consumed with rice and after 90 minutes when consumed with white bread. The postprandial response of plasma glucose to rice with Hijikia fusiformis seaweed was significantly lower than that to rice alone. There were no significant differences in the glycemic index, which is the average ratio of incremental areas under the plasma glucose curves in 120 minutes deeming the area after ingestion of 50g of carbohydrate as 100%, between intake of rice or white bread with and without other food.
These data suggest that the effect on blood glucose level differed depending onthe combination of foods.

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The diabetic diets (1, 200kcal and 1, 840kcal) offered in a hospital during a period of 31 days were analyzed to assess whether trace elements contained therein were adequate in quantity. Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium were determined by atomic spectrometry. Values for 1, 440kcal and 1, 600kcal diets were obtained by adding the increments resulting from the increased amounts of staple foods to the values for the 1, 200kcal diet.
The analyzed diet samples complied with the recommended dietary therapy. The results were compared with the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for the Japanese as well as with those of the United States.
The mean iron content in 1, 840kcal diets was 6.60±1.44mg/day, which is much lower than the recommended value. The zinc, magnesium and copper contents were also low. The iron content in 1, 200kcal diets was even lower or 5.52±1.03mg/day, and the calcium content was 515±79mg/day. The zinc, copper and magnesium contents were also lower than in the 1, 840kcal diet. These results were considered to be one of the characteristic features of lowenergy diets.

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The ratio of obese children in Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture, is yearly increasing. Children's health in relation with their dietary habits was investigated in order to develop an effective measure for prevention of obesity. The life styles incriminated as causes of obesity among children were (1) being sedentary, (2) late bedtime, (3) eating rice for breakfast more often and (4) eating fast. Children's life styles are also affected by such factors as increased households where both parents hold jobs and accelerated urbanization of the children's surroundings, both of which have led to later bedtimes. Because of these changes, the ratio of obese children among those of the elementary school age seems to be increasing annually.

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